By Nikki Wynn of Gone with the Wynn’s
How To Travel Like a Local
We all yearn for authentic and unique experiences, but we don’t always know how to best set ourselves up for them. Over the years of fulltime RV travel we’ve had our fair share of hits and misses, which has taught us a lot.
So now we like to say, we travel like locals. For us, this means seeing and experiencing a town as if it was our own. Sure, sometimes we hit tourist attractions too (they’re touristy for a reason right) but we like to dig a little deeper into each town. It takes some investigating to find out what makes a place tick, what makes it unique and what the local culture is all about; but it’s easy enough when you know where to begin. Traveling like a local is a fun mission to take on, and for us, we start with these three simple tricks.
1. Go to The Visitor’s Center
Some visitor’s centers are filled with knowledgeable and helpful locals who are happy to tell you what to hit and what to skip. They can guide you to tasty dives, let you know where the best live music is and even tell you which vendors to check out at the farmers market. Other times you’ll get the super touristy visitors center where the employees are told not to give personal opinions, but don’t give up! It’s all about asking the right questions. This is where you have to get specific on what types of experiences you want. They may not be allowed to tell you which coffee shop is the best but they can tell you which coffee shop roasts their own coffee and bakes their own scones. A few of our “go-to” questions are: Where is the best hike with a good view? Are there are any free concert series or outdoor theatre projects going on during our stay? Where’s the best spot for people watching?
2. Never Eat Alone
Dining, coffee, tea, or cocktails; whatever it is you like to do, always do it with company. With bar seating and family style dining tables, it’s becoming easier than ever to put yourself in a communal environment. Some of the best local tips and invitations we have ever received come from baristas, bartenders or the random person sitting next to us. So the next time you walk in and the host asks you “inside or out”, ask them if the full menu is served at the bar or if they have a communal table in the dining area.
3. Avoid Chains
It’s easy to stick within your comfort zone with the places that ensure that you get the same thing every time, but that’s the problem; you get the same thing every time. Sure, it may take a little more effort to search out the local taco shack vs. heading to the nearby taco chain, but we’ve found that more often than not, we are rewarded for our extra efforts. Local joints are usually filled with local culture, daily specials and plenty of locals to chat up about where to head to next. Plus, you get that warm fuzzy feeling from supporting small, local businesses.
So now you know a few of our tips and tricks on how to travel like a local, what are some of yours?
0 Responses
I like to ask locals what would be the first place they would eat, upon returning, if they left town for a year.
I like to ask people if they were away for a year what would be the first place they would eat upon returning home.
Good tips. To these I would add to look for the diners where a lot of pickup trucks cluster around meal times, off the beaten path. While some may be dives, often it's a good way to find out where the locals eat. The food is good (they depend on repeat business), the prices low, and these places are more casual. They're good places to pick up tips on what to see and do, what to avoid, and how to avoid those… tourists. 🙂
The picture that accompanies this article is a great little town in the area I am from called Leavenworth, WA. Definitely worth a visit!